As normalcy gradually returns to the North east, the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has expressed willingness to partner the Nigerian Army in peace building process in the zone.
The North east had since 2009 been tormented by the Boko Haram terrorists group and lately Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The National President of NAWOJ, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, said this Tuesday when she led executive members of the association on a courtesy visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the Military Command and Control Centre in Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri, Borno state.
She said NAWOJ would soon embark on a campaign to sensitise people of the zone on the need to educate the girl-child.
Omowole said statistics had shown that Borno state is the lowest in the country in terms of enrolment of the girlp-child, a situation which has been made worse by the kidnap of schools both in Chibok and Dapchi.
She, therefore, requested the army to assist the organization by providing it with security and other logistics to enable it to embark on the campaign.
The NAWOJ president said women and children had borne the brunt of the almost 10-year old insurgency which ravaged the zone.
She, however, expressed happiness that peace is returning to the area.
“We come to see things for ourselves. We are here to identify with the military, Nigerian army and chief of army of staff in particular,” she said.
“Women and children are most affected by the insurgency. Bringing peace to the North East is job well done; we are happy with you. Engage us in the peace building process.”
In the last one week, the army had rescued no fewer than 100 women and 95 children earlier abducted by the terrorists in different parts of Borno.
Responding, Buratai, who received the women at the Command and Control Centre, assured them that peace had return to Borno and North East.
He promised to take the women to the once dreaded Sambisa forest which had serve as the command and control centre of the terrorists, whenever they visit Borno again, to prove that normalcy had returned.
Buratai also promised to support them in the campaign to sensitise parents in the zone to the need to educate the girl-child. Attachments area
